Selvage draw-off means



Dec. 15, 1959 CQA. HEPP EI'AL 2,916,899

sELvAGE DRAW-OFF MEANS Filed March 15. 1956 2 sheets-sheet 1 u E LL E f--H 2 0 0 E 1 m n I w 9 LL 12 u h n E co' U-l u. l N

INVENToRs CARLOS A.HEPP PETER J.SCHOENSTER ATTORNEY Dec. 15, 1959 c, A, HEPP ETAL 2,916,899

SELVAGE DRAW-OFF MEANS Filed March 15, 195e 2 sheets-sheet 2 2/ F iG. 4 F IG. 5

F l G. '7

I i9 3 /0 ,737 N gg.

// INVENTORS' cARLos.A.HEPP BY PETER J.scHoENsTER f/Mf ATTORNEY I United States PatentOffiee 2,916,899 Patented Dec. 15, 1959 2,916,899 SELVAGE DRAW-OFF MEANS Application March 15, 1956, Serial No. 571,820. v 8 Claims. (CI. 66-149) This invention relates to selvage draw-off means for use in textile forming machines, Vand more particularly, in at knitting machines.

It is conventional in the textile field to engage the selvages of fabric by means of pin `clips moving in a determined track, as by means of endless chainsbelts or the like, to tenter the fabric as an incident to various finishing operations including heat setting and the like.

In the operation ofl high speed tricot and other similar types of ilat knitting machines, the freshly knitted fabric has a tendency to contract and curl as it moves from the knitting elements to the draw-off and take-up rollers. This results in detrimental consequences in respect to the finished fabric, inasmuch as the contraction and curling of the fabric causes non-uniform tensioning of the fabric as a whole, with the result that the loop structure of the central portions of the fabric varies toward the opposite edges thereof.

Furthermore, with non-uniform tension conditions' in the fabric, the end portions of the fabric appear to be drawn off under progressively lesser tension toward the ends of the machine, and thus, adversely affecting the yarn tension maintained in advance of the knitting elements. This gives rise to yarn lluttering towards both ends of the machine; and in particular, multiiilament yarns become difficult to knit as the yarn fluttering condition results in a tendency towards snarling and knitting imperfections, all of which involves machine stoppages, a lack of uniformity in quality of the knitted fabric, and a consequent uneconornical operation of the machines.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to `provide an improved selvage draw-off means, particularly adapted for use with at knitting machines, wherein means is provided for guiding the fabric selvages in determined longitudinal paths from the knitting elements to the drawoff roller, together with improved means for positively 2 take-up roller portion of the arrangement shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged partial plan view of the drawotf roller and associated selvage disengaging means;

Fig. 5 is an end view thereof with the belt removed;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1;

Pig. 7 is a transverse sectional view of a modified form of belt guide;

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section of a portion of a modied form of selvage engaging belt;

Fig. 9 is a partial view of the belt shown in Fig. 8 ad assoicated rollers.

Referring in detail to the drawing, and particularly to Fig. .l 10 designates the usual knitting elements of a flat knitting machine, including needles 11, sinkers 12 and yarn guides 13. The newly knitted fabric, generally indicated at 14, is drawn off from knitting elements 10 by a draw-off roller 15, which may be positively rotated by means not shown, the fabric 14 being maintained in frictional engagement with a substantial portion of the f circumference of roller 15 by passing lsaid fabric around a second draw-off roller 16 located inwardly of roller 15. The fabric 14 passes from roller 16 to a takeup roller 17 located forwardly of roller 15.

Means is provided for positively guiding the selvages S of fabric 14 in a determined rectilinear path from the knitting elements 10 to draw-olf roller 15. Such means comprises a pair of flexible, endless belts 18 having the forward ends thereof passing about the opposite end portions of roller 15, the rear ends of said belts passing about an idler roller 19 located adjacent knitting elements 10. Only one of the belts 18 is shown to simplify illustration. An idler roll'er 20 engageable with the lower run of belts 18, may be located to displace the pathof the belt run so as not to interfere` with roller disengaging the fabric selvages from the guiding means,

ripping action frequently resulting in injury to the fabricas well as operational difficulties.

A further object of this invention is to provide a selvage draw-off means including endless belts having upstanding pins thereon for engaging and guiding the selvages to the draw-off roller, together with means for progressively disengaging the selvages from the pins at the draw-olf roller while laterally displacing the selvage edges so as to allow the fabric to move from the drawolf roller to the take-up roller without interference with the belts carrying the pins.

Other objects ofV this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out. v

In the drawing, Fig. l is a schematic showing of a selvage draw-olf means embodying the invention;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged partialview of the Belts 18 are provided with upstanding pins 18awhicl1 are longitudinally spaced and fixed on said belts. Such pins are disposed in the path of selvages S of fabric 14 as the same is drawn off by roller 15 whereby such selvages have closely spaced longitudinally spaced portions thereof impaled on said pins. In thismanner, the selvages S of fabric 14 are positively guided in determined rectilinear paths, as belts 18 move forwardly upon rotation of roller 15 and curling or contraction of said fabric is avoided as the same moves to roller 15.

Meansis also provided for progressively and smoothly disengaging the fabric selvages S from pins 18a, as fabric 14 moves about roller 15. To this end there is provided curved members 21 in complementary relation to circumferential portions of roller 15 and in alignment with belts 18 thereon. Said members 21 include isterally extending bracket arms 22 for attachment to the machine frame, not shown, so as to properly locate said members.

Each member 21 comprises a narrow, forwardly extending portion 23 formed with a longitudinal slot 24 cpening at the forward edge 25 of said portion 23. Each member 21 further includes an upstanding guide wall 26 extending rearwardly from the outer edge 27 `of the member and diagonally inward beyond the rear edge 28 of the member.

As shown in Figs. 3, 5, the forward edge 25 of the member 21 is located in close proximity to the outer surface of belt 18, while the curved bottom wall 29 of said member is so disposed that the same is at a progressively increased spacing relative to the opposed portion of belt 18'moving about roller` 15. The forwardedge 25 of the member 21 is interposed between the upper surface of belt 18 and the underside of fabric 24 being aligned with pins 18a on placed outwardly of belt 18 at the arcuate portion there of in a manner to cause progressive disengagement of said selvages from the pins 18a which move into slot 24 as the belt moves about roller 15. At the rear end of the slot 24, the selvages are completely free of pins 18a.

As the selvages S are being disengaged from pins 18a, the guide wall 26 becomes effective to laterally displace the selvage edges inwardly in a progressive manner, as the fabric 14 moves about the lower circumferential portions of roller 15, bringing said edges to a point inwardly of the path of movement of pins 18a, as indicated in Fig. 4.

Thus, as the fabric 14 reengages the roller 15 at the selvages thereof, beyond the rear edge of members 21, and continues in its path about roller 16 to roller 17, the selvage edges wil.' be free of the inner edges of belts 18 at the lower runs thereof. The lateral displacement of the fabric selvages is aided by the normal tendency of the knitted fabric to contract somewhat as such selvages are lifted clear of the pins 18a.

Means is also provided for preventing belts 18 from buckling or being drawn towards the center of the machine, as shown in Figs. l, 6. To this end, elongated members 30 of channel cross section are arranged to receive therein the upper runs of belts 18; a flange 32 extending from one edge portion of the member and overlying the upper surface of the belt, serves to keep said belt from twisting out of a normal horizonal plane. A

' member 30, the same to be attached to the machine frame, not shown, to properly position the same relative to the upper run of the belts.

Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 7, the pins 18a on belts 18 may be directly guided in their longitudinal path between knitting elements and roller 15, thus keeping the belts from twisting, by means of an elongated member 34 positioned over thepath of said pins and formed with a narrow, longitudinalslot 35 on the underside thereof to receive said pins therein. A bracket arm 36 extending laterally from member 34 serves to mount and position the same relative to the machine frame, not shown. It will be apparent that the pins 18a will be kept in a true path and will not be inclined toward the centre of the machine by fabric tension.

As shown in Fig. 8, the belt 37 for mounting pins 18a,

at points closer to the edges thereof,

in the knitted fabric.

Furthermore, the thickened portions 39 ofbelts 37 permit more secure anchorage of pins 13a without sacrificing the flexibility of the belt as a whole. Also, such belt exhibits superior traction qualities in respect to the drawot roller 15, assuring improved drive of belts v37 as theyv guide the fabric selvages.

It will be apparent that thereis kshown herein selvage draw-otf means by which the several objects of the invention are achieved, and which is well adapted toI meet the conditions of practical use.

knitting elements 10. Thev selvages in predetermined longitudinal As various changes might be made in the embodiments ofthe invention herein shown, without departing from the spirit thereof, it is understood that all matter herein shown or described shall be deemed illustrative and not by way of limitation except as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus disclosed our invention, we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent:

1. ln a selvage guiding means comprising a pair of spaced rollers, a pair of belts respectively entrained about the opposite end portions of said rollers, longitudinally spaced upstanding pins mounted on said belts for engagement with fabric selvages to guide the movement of said paths upon rotation of one of said rollers, means adjacent said one roller for disengaging said fabric selvages from said pins comprising a curved member extending about said one roller for guiding said fabric selvages in an arcuate path about said one roller while progressively increasing the displacement of said selvages outwardly from the circumference of said one roller whereby said fabric selvages are progressively removed from said pins as said belts move about said one roller, and means for laterally displacing the disengaged fabric selvages inwardly of the inner edges of said belts.

,2. In a fabric knitting machine including knitting elements, a draw-off roller spaced from said elements for drawing otf the knitted fabric upon rotation of said roller, an idler roller adjacent said elements, an endless belt entrained about said rollers adjacent the outer ends thereof and movable in a fixed longitudinal path upon rotation of said rollers, upstanding pins mounted in longitudinally spaced relation on said belt for engaging a selvage of said knitted fabric, means for disengaging the selvage from said pins adjacent said draw-off roller, said means comprising an arcuate member having a leading end thereof disposed in overlying relation to the belt portion moving about said draw-off roller, the leading end portion of said member being longitudinally slotted in alignment with the pins on said belt and being progressively displaced in a radial direction relative to the rotational axis of said draw-olf roller whereby the rear end of said slotted portion of the member is clear of the outer ends of said pins and the front end of said slotted portion is immediately adjacent the base of said pins.

3. In a machine as in claim 2 wherein said arcuate member includes an edge guide portion in upstanding relation to the slotted portion thereof, said guide portion extending diagonally from the outer edge of said slotted portion towards the inner edge thereof and terminating inwardly of said inner edge.

4. In a machine as in claim 2 and further including means for retaining the upper run of said belt against buckling or lateral displacement during the movement thereof between said rollers.

5. In a textile forming machine including -fabric forming elements, a rotatable draw-olf roller spaced from said elements for drawing off the formed fabric, an idler roller adjacent said elements, a take-up roller adjacent said draw-off roller for receiving the fabric from the draw-off roller, a pair of endless belts respectively entrained about the opposite ends of said draw-olf and idler rollers, pins mounted on said belts for positively engaging the fabric selvages and guiding the same in longitudinal paths from said'elements to said draw-off roller, means adjacent said draw-off roller for progressively lifting said fabric selvages from said pins as said belts move about said drawol roller and means for laterally displacing the released selvage edges inwardly of the inner edges of said belts whereby the fabric may pass from :said draw-olf roller to said take-up roller.

6. In a at knitting machine comprising knitting elements and draw-off roller spaced from said elements for engaging the knitted fabric about a substantial portion of thecircumference thereof upon rotation of said roller, an idler roller adjacent said knitting elements, an endless belt entrained about said rollers for longitudinal movement upon rotation of said draw-off roller, pins on said belt for positively and releasably engaging the fabric selvage, and means for lifting the fabric selvage from said pins as the belt moves about said draw-olf roller, said means comprising an arcuate member positioned adjacent the arcuate portion of said belt passing about said drawoif roller, said member having a forward edge overlying and adjacent the belt and adapted to be interposed between the belt and the fabric selvage, said member being longitudinally slotted on a forward portion thereof and to said forward edge thereof for receiving therein the pins on said belt, the slotted portion of said member being progressively displaced outwardly relative to the arcuate portion of said belt with the rear end of said slotted portion clear of the outer ends of the pins whereby the fabric selvage is progressively lifted from said pins as said selvage passes around said draw-off roller and released from said pins at the rear end of the slotted portion of said member.

7. In a machine yas in claim 6 and further including means for laterally displacing the released selvage inwardly of said belt whereby said selvage may reengage a circumferential portion of said drawoi roller inwardly of the inner edge of the adjacent belt.

8. In -a at knitting machine, a drawoff roller spaced from the knitting elements of said machine, an idler roller adjacent the knitting elements, means for engaging the selvage of fabric knitted by said knitting elements as said fabric is drawn by said dra -oi roller, said means comprising an endless belt entrained about said rollers adjacent the ends thereof and longitudinally spaced, upstanding pins mounted on said belt for positively engag ing said fabric selvage, means extending about circumferential portions of said draw-off roller for progressively disengaging said selvage from said pins as said belt moves about said draw-off roller, and means for preventing buckling or twisting of said belt during the longitudinal movement thereof between said rollers, said last mentioned means comprising an elongated member overlying the upper run of said belt, said member being formed with a narrow, longitudinally extending slot on the underside thereof for receiving said pins therein and preventing lateral tilt of said pins during the longitudinal movement.

of said belt.

References Cited in the le of this patent 

